Pyboard MicroPython ARM Cortex M4 Board is Now Available for $45

MicroPython is both a lightweight implementation of Python 3.4 programming language, and a board, aka pyBoard, based on STMicro STM32F4 ARM Cortex M4 micro-controller running Micro Python. The project had a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013, and they’ve completed shipment of the perks to their backers last June. The company has now launched its own store, so let’s see the progress of the project. The board has been re-designed since Kickstarter campaign, but the specifications remains the similar, but with some extra I/Os exposed: MCU – STMicro STM32F405RG micro-controller @ 168 MHz with 1MB flash, 192KB RAM, and an FPU. External Storage – Micro SD card slot, supporting standard and high capacity SD cards Expansion Headers: 24x GPIO on left and right edges and 5x GPIO on bottom row, plus LED and switch GPIO available on bottom row 3x 12-bit analog to digital converters, available on 16 pins, 4 with […]

Rikomagic Announces MK902II LE Ubuntu Mini PC Powered by Rockchip RK3288 SoC

Rikomagic announced their MK902II mini PC based on Rockchip RK3288 in May, and which has started shipping recently for about $130. The company have now announced MK902II LE (Linux Edition) based on the same hardware, but instead of running Android 4.4, it’s running Xubuntu 14.04 with some virtualization technique that allows it to run x86 Linux programs such as Skype, and it can even support Wine to run Windows programs. MK902II LE specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3288 Quad Core Cortex A12/A17 up to 1.8GHz with ARM Mali-T764 GPU supporting OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.0, Open VG1.1, OpenCL, DirectX11 System Memory – 2GB (Dual channel 64 bit DRAM controller) Storage – 16GB Internal eMMC with Xubuntu 14.04 preinstalled + micro SD card slot Video Output- HDMI (1080p), and AV output Audio Output – HDMI, AV output, optical output, or external USB audio card (not included) Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. USB – […]

openPicus Introduces Wi-Fi and GPRS IoT Kits Powered by Microchip PIC24 MCU

openPicus has launched two new development kits for the Internet of Things with either Wi-Fi or GPRS connectivity, based on their FlyportPRO modules featuring a 16-bit Microchip PIC24 MCU, and sharing the same baseboard. These kits can be used as a Web server with firmware update over the air (FOTA) (Wi-Fi version only) among other things, and support TCP, UDP, FTP, & HTTP protocols, as well as MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport), a light weight messaging protocol running on top of the TCP/IP protocol, used when a small code footprint is required and/or network bandwidth is limited. openPicus FlyportPRO Wi-Fi and GPRS modules share mostly the same specifications: MCU – Microchip PIC24FJ256GB206 16-bit MCU @ 32 MHz with 256KB Flash,  96KB RAM External Storage – 16Mbit Flash memory (for FOTA), 64Kbit EEPROM Connectivity GPRS Module – SAGEM HILONC GPRS Transceiver (quad band: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) with uFL connector for external […]

Howchip Introduces ExSOM-4412 Module and Development Kit Powered by Samsung Exynos 4412 Quad Core SoC

Howchip, the company that normally distribute Insignal Origen and Arndale boards, has just introduced ExSOM-4412 system-on-module, and a corresponding development kit called ExSOM-4412-DVK. ExSOM-4412 module specifications: SoC – Samsung Exynos 4412 quad core Cortex A9 CPU with Mali-400MP4 GPU System Memory – N/A (TBC) Storage – Up to 8GB eMMC + SD/SDIO interface Connectivity – 10/100Mbps Ethernet, optional  Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module Video Output – HDMI(1080p) for TV, 2-ch LVDS for TFT LCD Camera – 2x parallel camera interfaces Audio – Line in/out  and Headphone out. USB – 4x USB 2.0 Host ch and OTG Configurable GPIOs, Analog inputs, PWMs and Serial interfaces such as I2Cs, SPIs,  and UARTs SoM Connector – 213-pin MXM connector Dimensions – 70mm x 70mm The dimensions and connector used points to the module following Qseven standard, but the company does not mention anything about Qseven, so the pin assignment may be different. Software support […]

MINIX NEO X6 H.265 Android Media Player is Available for Pre-order for $99

Android media players based on Amlogic S805 such as MXQ S85 or EM6Q-MXQ are currently available for $50 to $70, but MINIX NEO X6 has now been listed for pre-order on sites such as DealExtreme. Geekuying, Aliexpress, and Amazon USstarting at $99 including shipping, with some sellers providing an extra gift (SD card or flash drive). MINIX devices are usually a bit more expensive than other equivalent products, because of potentially better hardware, and the company provides regular firmware updates and a support forum. The specs remain the same as the initial announcement: SoC – Amlogic S805 quad core ARM Cortex A5 @ 1.5GHz with quad core Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 1 GB DDR3L Storage – 8 GB eMMC + micro SD slot Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) with external antenna, Bluetooth 4.0 Video Output – HDMI 1.4 up to 1080p with HDMI-CEC support Audio […]

pcDuino Acadia 1 is a Freescale i.MX6 Quad Development Board with Arduino Headers

Linksprite has been pretty busy recently. After announcing the $39 pcDuino3 Nano, they’ve now unveiled a new board named pcDuino Acadia 1 powered by Freescale i.MX6 Quad processor with 1GB RAM, 8GB eMMC, a few common ports, and Arduino headers in order to connect Arduino shields to their Linux/Android board. pcDuino Acadia 1 (preliminary) specifications: SoC – Freescale i.MX6 Quad with four ARM Cortex A9 cores up to 1.2GHz, and Vivante GC2000 GPU with support for OpenGL/ES 2. x, OpenCL EP support, and OpenVG 1.1. System Memory – 1GB DRAM Storage – 8GB eMMC, 2x micro SD card slots (up to 128GB), and SATA Video Output – HDMI 1.4 with HDCP support, LVDS Audio Output – 3.5mm analog audio interface Camera – 1x MIPI, 1x CSI Connectivity – 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet (limited to 470Mbps) USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB OTG Expansion Headers – Arduino UNO compatible […]

Review of EM6Q-MXQ Android Quad Core Media Player

After taking a few pictures of Eny EM6Q-MXQ Android media player, it’s time for a full review. I’ll first give my first impressions and go through the user interface, test video playback, test the system, network, and storage performance, try a few games, and check various hardware ports are working as they are supposed to do. First Boot, Settings and First Impressions I’ve inserted two AAA batteries in the provided infrared remote control to check it’s working, and it’s usable in the main user interface and XBMC, but once you start using most Android apps it’s useless, so I quickly switched to  Mele F10 Deluxe air mouse. Before powering up the device, I’ve connected an HDMI cable, an Ethernet cable, and made with use of the 4 USB ports by connecting two RF dongles (Air mouse and gamepad), a USB hard drive, and a UVC USB webcam. The box lacks […]

Unboxing of Nagrace HPH NT-V6 Android TV Box with HDMI In, Rockchip RK3288 Processor

Thanks to Nagrace Times Technology, I’ve got a new Rockchip RK3288 Android mini PC to play with. HPH NT-V6 model is higher end compared to the other ones I’ve received including Uyesee G1H, Kingnovel R6 and Orion R28 Meta, because it comes with 32GB eMMC, HDMI In, and a AP6335 Wi-Fi module providing 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity. I’ll start by listing the device specifications, take some pictures of the device and the board, and I’ll write a full review probably next week as I have some other hardware to test first. Nagrace NT-V6 specifications The company provides various memory and storage options for this product, and if Linux based operating systems such as Ubuntu or Chrome OS end up being properly supported on Rockchip RK3288, Nagrace NT-V6 could end up bring a very nice mini PC: SoC –  Rockchip RK3288 quad core ARM Cortex A12/A17 processor @ 1.8 GHz with ARM […]

UP 7000 x86 SBC